Us: Gather

Ephesians 3:10-11 says, “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

We, as Christians, are supposed to gather for worship.  For some things in our Christian walk it helps to understand the “why” before we do the “ought to”.  What I mean is that we “ought to” meet together to worship God.  But it’s good to know the “why” so that we can be motivated to meet together.

When was the last time that you were in awe of something because it was ordinary?  When was the last time that you were in wonder because of something just made perfect sense?  I wasn’t in awe of Clemson when they beat SC State 59-0 this year.  That was something expected.  A stronger, more talented team beating a weaker, less talented team doesn’t bring us a sense of wonder.  If SC State would have beaten Clemson then I would have been in awe of SC State.  I think that’s one reason we like to cheer for the underdog (just as long as it’s not a team playing Clemson).  We long to be in awe.  We were in awe of Clemson when they beat Notre Dame last year in such a close game.  They played beyond their abilities in that game.  They brought lots of guts to that game.

We can see God in the things of life that seem mundane at times.  We’re in awe of how God can make something special out of the mundane, or how he created something out of nothing, with great care and special design.  But we don’t become in awe of the mundane or normal things.  We become in awe of God because He’s given so much to us on a regular everyday basis even though we haven’t deserved it. 

If the church was composed of superheroes doing super things with their super powers then we wouldn’t be that much in awe of the church (or more importantly, that much in awe of the one who created the church).  But if we saw weak, sinful people doing supernatural things then we would be in awe.  If we thought we deserved to be saved and deserved to be called the “body of Christ” then we wouldn’t be in awe of what God has done with the church.  This is why, I think, Paul spends so much time in the first three chapters explaining what God has done for us outside of any merit on our part.  Look at what these verses say about what God has done and why or how He did it:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. –Ephesians 1:3

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. –Ephesians 1:4a

In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—Ephesians 1:4b-1:5

to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. –Ephesians 1:6

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace—Ephesians 1:7

And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ—Ephesians 1:9

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him—Ephesians 1:11

made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.  –Ephesians 2:5

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  –Ephesians 2:6-7

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.  –Ephesians 2:8-9

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.  –Ephesians 2:13

His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two (Gentiles and Jews), thus making peace—Ephesians 2:15

For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.  –Ephesians 2:18

And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.  –Ephesians 2:22

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.  –Ephesians 3:10-11

Now, there should be no doubt that the reason supernatural things happen to us and through us is not because we deserved them but because we are “in Jesus Christ.”  He has taken the weak and sinful and is showing them off to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.  All these things that people in the church have and are is not because of our own hard work or ingenuity.  It’s all because of God’s grace and wisdom.  We’re benefiting because of someone else’s hard work and perfection.  This should not only put us in awe of God and cause us to worship but, apparently, it causes the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms to worship God as well. 

So, when the church spends time meeting together, whether in small groups or large groups, it helps us remember how wise and gracious God is.  We’re kind-of-like the underdog who’s winning the game.  You can look at the people sitting around you and say to yourself, “These people are on display before the angel armies.”  That thought puts God’s people in a different light.  You’re on display whether you feel like it’s true or not.  And you’re on display even if you didn’t brush your hair or teeth this morning or even if you had a bad morning.  It doesn’t matter. 

A man reportedly came to the British pastor Charles H. Spurgeon looking for the perfect church. The famous preacher told him he had many saintly people in his congregation, but a Judas could also be among them. After all, even Jesus had a traitor in the company of His apostles. He went on to say that some might be walking disobediently, as had been the case among the believers at Rome, Corinth, Galatia, and Sardis.

“My church is not the one you’re looking for,” said Spurgeon. “But if you should happen to find such a church, I beg you not to join it, for you would spoil the whole thing.’” (The Perfect Church.  7000 Illustrations in the Bible.)

We’re not a body of like-minded individuals who have a need for religion.  We’re not the church because of our doctrine.  We’re the church because of who we are.  When Paul was persecuting people in the church, who did Jesus’ say he was persecuting?  Jesus told Paul, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4).  That truth puts me in awe of God’s wisdom.

In my logical way of thinking it would seem more “normal” if I cleaned myself up in order for God to accept me.   That’s not the way it worked.  It was all a gift from God.  He made it this way so that we wouldn’t boast. 

We don’t need to deceive ourselves into thinking that we’re any less important because we may feel that way.  We don’t need to deceive ourselves into thinking that someone else is any less important because we feel that way about them.  We meet together as an act of faith, trusting that God is telling us the truth about who we really are.  This should have an effect on how devoted we are to each other.  We’re not just being devoted to each other.  We’re being devoted to Christ. 

Part of the purpose of communion is to remember what Jesus did for us.  Taking the bread that’s broken and drinking the juice is a reminder that Jesus was broken for us and his blood was spilled for us.  It’s a reminder of what Jesus has done for us.  It all ties back in with what I was explaining in Ephesians.  We gather because God gives.  We worship because He’s wise.  We sing because He saves.

So, what does the Bible say about what we “ought to” do?  Also, how can we prepare our hearts for worship before and during the meeting?

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. –Hebrews 10:24-25

You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders.  –1 Peter 5:5

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  –Romans 12:10

Examples from the early church

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  –Acts 2:1

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  –Acts 2:42

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.   –Acts 2:46-47

Thoughts to consider when preparing for our worship gatherings:

1.  Am I filled with the “word of Christ”?

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  –Colossians 3:16

2.  Am I “filled with the Spirit”?

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  –Ephesians 5:18-20

3.  Am I “hardened by sin’s deceitfulness”?  Am I encouraging others daily?

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.  –Hebrews 3:13

4.  Does my brother have something against me?

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.  –Matthew 5:23-24

5.  Am I worshiping in “spirit and truth”?

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. –John 4:23

6.  Am I worshiping God with all of myself, including my emotions, mind and body?

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  –Deuteronomy 6:5